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Paris - France is not for sale, Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg declared on Friday, brushing off criticism from the European Union that his stance on foreign company takeovers bordered on protectionism.
The government gave itself the power to block takeovers in "strategic" sectors on Thursday, throwing up a potential roadblock to US conglomerate General Electric's $16.9bn bid for Alstom's power business.
The decree swiftly drew a warning against "protectionism" from the EU official in charge of competition, and was called a "bad idea" by France's main employers' group.
The government has criticised GE's bid, which has the backing of the French engineer's board, favouring an alliance between the companies rather than a straight sale that would leave Alstom with just its smaller transport business.
It also wants Alstom to consider an alternative proposal for an energy and transport asset swap with Germany's Siemens to create two strong "European champions".
"We are not for sale. France is not for sale," Montebourg said, interviewed on RMC radio. "We favour alliances, not takeovers... We are not prey, especially in such strategic areas."
"An alliance can be done with General Electric. It's not the case right now, but that can evolve."
Montebourg said he would meet GE executives on Friday and Alstom union representatives next week to discuss the future of the company, which was bailed out by the French government a decade ago and has strongly relied on state orders for its trains and power turbines.
Alstom has given Siemens until the end of the month to decide whether to make a formal rival offer before it enters exclusive talks with GE.
Montebourg cited CFM, which makes jet engines and is co-owned by GE and Snecma, a unit of French aerospace group Safran, as an example of how a deal could work, calling it "a brilliant French-American success".
GE has also been citing the venture's success in an attempt to convince French leaders of its goodwill.
"Our strategy is no to dismembering, yes to alliances," Montebourg said, adding he had explained this preference to GE chief executive Jeff Immelt.
He also pointed out that he had not stepped in last year when French advertising company Publicis announced a merger of equals with US rival Omnicom.
The Publicis-Omnicom deal has since collapsed due to a battle for control.
Montebourg said the government would not let domestic companies be "dismembered, chopped up into pieces and devoured" and did not rule out taking a stake in Alstom as part of an effort to secure its future.
He noted that French state lender BPI had 3 000 stakes in companies and state fund APE had 71 stakes for a portfolio worth €110bn.
"We are used to having a sovereign fund that intervenes in companies' capital. Not ruling that out is I think a good way of working," he said.
Steve Bolze, the president of GE's power unit, is among the executives set to meet Montebourg.
A spokesperson for GE France declined to comment on what Montebourg said and what would be discussed during the meeting.
